Obama administration's guidance on LGBT-friendly restroom policies in public schools criticized

President Barack Obama's administration is imposing transgender-friendly bathroom policies in public schools, something that has sparked outrage and calls for further debate on the already high-profile issue.

The U.S. Departments of Justice and Education have issued a letter to school districts on Friday that directs public schools to let transgender students use restrooms based on their gender identity. According to CNN, the letter "does not carry the force of law," although it reportedly puts across the message that the schools should comply, otherwise their federal funding could be put in jeopardy.

The letter says in part: "As is consistently recognized in civil rights cases, the desire to accommodate others' discomfort cannot justify a policy that singles out and disadvantages a particular class of students to ensure that all students, including transgender students, can attend school in an environment free from discrimination based on sex."

It directs schools to address students based on their preferred names and pronouns, and let them use facilities in accordance to the gender they identify with. It, basically, underscores the administration's stance on gender issues.

North Carolina, where there is a directive for people to use restrooms and similar facilities based on their biological sex and not their gender identity, is among those who are not happy with the letter.

"Most Americans, including this governor, believe that government is searching for a solution to a problem that has yet to be defined," NC Gov. Pat McCrory said in a statement. "Now, both the federal courts and the U.S. Congress must intercede to stop this massive executive branch overreach, which clearly oversteps constitutional authority."

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said that families in America will not accept it, labeling the guidance as "social engineering" and accusing the Obama admistration of "blackmail." Similarly, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said that it's "outrageous" and has called school administrators in his state to ignore the directive.

"The directive is nonbinding and does not carry the force of law," Bryant said. "Because these decisions are better left to the states, and not made at the point of a federal bayonet, Mississippi's public schools should not participate in the president's social experiment."

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, likewise, blasted the directive, saying that having spent years in law enforcement, he recognizes that seriousness of the dangers of sexual predators, and that "we should not facilitate allowing grown men or boys to be in bathrooms with little girls."

Supporters of LGBT rights, on the other hand, laud the administration's move, with Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin saying that the "groundbreaking guidelines" underscores the U.S. president's position on discrimination against transgender students and calls it "a truly significant moment" for transgender youth and all young people.